AAA: 2012 was most expensive year for gas

Texas had the most expensive statewide average on record for gasoline in 2012, with the annual average price for a gallon of regular unleaded at $3.43.

AAA Texas said Thursday that the previous annual record was $3.37 in 2011. The third most expensive year for gas prices was 2008 at $3.13.

The group says hurricanes, refinery outages and Middle East tensions sent markets "in an upward swing for most of the year."

AAA Texas says this week the statewide average in Texas increased six cents to $3.13. Motorists in Texarkana are paying the most on average at $3.19, while drivers in El Paso are paying the least at $3.03. The average price for fuel in Texas is 16 cents less than the national average of $3.29.